6/12/05 – Telling him off
Brian asked "When's dinner?" and turned towards the bedroom.
Brian felt a sauce covered wooden spoon hit him in the middle of his back. He spun around. "What the fuck?"
Justin laid into him, "Listen here, you son of a bitch! You … unappreciative prick.
First off, you're not eating any of this dinner. You don't deserve a home cooked meal.
Second, as for you getting syphilis from me … not likely. Any tricks I've had lately were ones that we both shared. Compared to the mountain of men that you've had, mine qualifies as a molehill and don't deny it.
Third, I understand your constant need to get your dick sucked or thrust in some guy's ass. You have a voracious sex drive and act on it every chance you get. But, now that we're living together and you know that you can get it any time you want at home, do you really have to pursue guys as much as you always did? I'm not asking you to stop chasing tricks, I know better than that. But, for fuck's sake, can't you taper off? Do you have to nail everything that moves?
Fourth. After your penicillin treatment and sabbatical from sexual pursuits, don't expect that I'm going to be eagerly awaiting your return naked and in our bed. I'm pretty pissed at you right now and it's going to take me longer than 48 hours to get over this."
He picked up the spoon and waggled it at Brian, who stared angrily at Justin, waiting for him to finish.
"You know, I thought that after I got back from L.A. and we were living together again things might be a little different. I'm trying to cook more so we can have nice dinners together. I thought you might actually be willing to stay home some nights and not trick as much as you used to. I mean, the ménage a quatre the other day was fun, I could see doing that again, but do you really have to go to the back room of Babylon four times a night? I don't give a fuck if you are the owner.
I love you and I'll put up with a lot of your shit. God knows, I've done more than my share of that the last few years. But taking me for granted and assuming I'll just happily go along with whatever you dish out is bullshit. I'm at my limit, Brian. Unless you change your attitude and actions pretty damn soon you're going to lose me… not because of another guy or to chase a Hollywood dream. But, because of you.
You. Will. Lose. Me."
Brian's emotions boiled over. He walked up to Justin and they were nose to nose when he yelled back. "Well, aren't you the darling fucking housewife! Who are you to tell me what to do? I'll fuck who I want when I want as often as I want."
Justin's heart shrank. All the time waiting for Brian to become even a little more domestic was wasted. He was never going to stop chasing men. He was always going to need the affirmation he got when scoring yet another trick. It was a waste of time to stay any longer. Justin made the decision that he was done trying. He needed to get out of there and on with his life, even though it hurt like hell. "Well, then fuck yourself."
"Fuck you, too."
"We're through. I'm outta here. I'll pick up my shit tomorrow." Justin grabbed his keys and his coat and left, slamming the door as he went.
Brian stared at the closed door, enraged at Justin's words and actions. Everything from the kitchen counter was unceremoniously dumped onto the floor, and then the pot from the stove was thrown across the room.
It was over.
Justin came back the next day while Brian was at work and retrieved his belongings. He stayed with Daphne for a few days, but then contacted her friend Cara from New York and made arrangements to share her apartment with her. New York might have seemed a big jump from the Pitts, especially since the only time he was ever there was on Brian's dime and he didn't see anything. He had long since paid Brian back for that. Justin knew he would miss him terribly, but he was so sick and tired of waiting for him.
If you were an artist and wanted to make it big, New York is where you went. So, when he and Daphne were talking one night and she mentioned a friend of hers living in New York, it seemed perfect. The perfect solution for his art and the perfect solution for getting away from Brian and everyone he knew in the Pitts, who were also attached to Brian. There was no way he was going to actually break free from the pull he always felt around Brian if he saw him all the time. He had some of his stuff shipped and flew the rest of it with him. He took up residence with Cara and she turned out to be a great roommate. Justin made some contacts in the art world through Lindsay and also found a job at a diner in Soho, much like The Diner back home. He fit right in. He wasn't able to rent studio space for 4 months, but he'd been sketching ideas for paintings, so once he got the studio he was off and running, creating many new and imaginative pieces.
He missed everyone back home, but that last fight with Brian told Justin that he was NOT the man for him. Justin wanted to have a man committed to him alone. He wanted to establish some kind of home. He wanted the opportunity to have a child or two. He wasn't going to get any of these things from Brian. Justin really did love him, but he knew he wouldn't change. In truth, he didn't want Brian to change, because it would have only made them resent each other. How many relationships succeed when one person changes that much to be with someone else?
Justin kept in contact with Emmett, Daphne, Lindsay and his mom. Emmett spread the word to Ted, Deb, Michael and Ben on Justin's progress. The guys, especially Emmett and Michael, were upset with Brian over his callous 'fuck anything' ways that forced Justin to leave. The kid was their friend too, and now he was gone because of Brian.
7/17/05 – Bombing at Babylon
A fundraiser for people against Proposition 16, an anti-gay law being proposed, was held at Babylon. Cyndi Lauper performed and hundreds of people attended. Brian loaned his club, but did not attend. Someone set a bomb and the explosion killed six people and injured many more.
Justin had already moved to New York at the time of the bombing. He contacted friends and family in Pittsburgh and knew what had happened and who had gotten hurt or killed. His heart went out to those affected by the bombing. Remembering his own gay bashing and then realizing that the bombing was another gay hate crime, he was just as glad to be in New York. The big city wasn't perfect, but it felt somehow safer being removed from the hate that he knew was circulating in Pittsburgh at that time. He wasn't too surprised to hear that Lindsay and Melanie also decided to move away to Toronto. They felt they'd be safer there.
Brian felt alone. First Justin left and then Gus and Lindsay. Michael had been hurt in the bombing, but he was recovering from his injuries. One thing that Brian was glad for – Justin wasn't at the club at the time of the bombing. He was sure that if the blond had been in town he'd have gone to the fundraiser and possibly been killed.
2/1/06 – The other man
Brian never asked about Justin, although he knew that Emmett was in contact with him. He'd hear the guys talking about Justin and picked up phrases like "doing his art", "working in Soho", "gallery opening". Never a mention of another man, though.
But, sure enough, one day over the din of Babylon he heard Emmett mentioning "Justin's boyfriend Stuart". Michael wanted to know the details. Brian pretended to be talking to a trick, but secretly he was paying more attention to the conversation behind him. Apparently, Justin had found a guy who was a successful businessman and they'd moved in together.
Brian's POV
Shit. I don't know why I'm upset, but I am. Fuck it, he left me. I have to get over it. It's been months now. What did I expect? I've moved on. He's moved on. We're both better off. It never would have worked. He wanted the hubby, the house, and the kids. It's a fucking farce, is what it is. So Justin's going to be a Stepford fag like Mikey and Ben? Good. More power to him.
So, why does it hurt so much?
End POV
12/20/06
Brian stopped for a drink at Woody's before heading over to Cynthia's for a holiday party she was having at her place for Kinnetik employees. He figured a drink would fortify him before an evening of tiring social pleasantries. He didn't figure on who he'd meet at Woody's.
